How good is our squad, really?

[RedFish]

At the moment I’m finding it hard to pick the starting 11, it’s nothing to do with the level of talent but more to do with what each player can give us. If you had a player with the equal mix of Fellaini & Herrera, a Centre back with the combined abilities of Jones, Smalling and Evans or a forward player with the pace of Wilson and the experience of RVP then we would be on the right track.
Unfortunately our weakness is coming through the spine of the team, because of this it is having a negative effect on our overall play, tactics and formation, players like Di Maria, Falcao, RVP, Rooney, Januzaj, Shaw, Rafael, Carrick have had to change the way they play to suit a style of football that is not playing to theirs or the team’s or the Clubs strength.

On paper we have a fantastic team, our squad hasn’t been as strong for quite a few years, but given the injuries we’ve had its been impossible to see how good we are let alone how good we can become. For me we are two or three players (Starters) away from challenging for the league and another two or three (Squad players) away from being serious Champions league contenders.

Our play is collapsing because of this, like a house of cards.

 

[Oneunited26]

as if. they wanted moyes , he was their boy. they should have paid the price. ethical reasons at a football club that has logos every place they can. laughable really.



he did get to appoint his replacement and did go out with a swagger winning the league by march. it was his "underpowered squad" that he won it with.

If you go back, you can read charltons interview on why they turned down mourinho

 

[Getsme]

Our play is collapsing because of this, like a house of cards.

Yep, which is why you need Fellaini in the middle of the park to stop the team getting bullied, unfortunately he doesn’t give you the attacking play that Herrera can offer you. It’s just a clusterfeck of nearly men in places we need our strongest and best players to be.

 

[Oneunited26]

All Moyes' fault? Hardly. Van Gaal's struggles this season have confirmed that the squad Moyes inherited was nowhere near as good as many on here claimed. He clearly wasn't up to the job but the challenge he faced was massively under-estimated. Hence Van Gaal is having a hell of struggle to get more points out of the team than Moyes did.

Also worth noting that Moyes' signings have actually been among our best players under Van Gaal. It's this summer's arrivals who have struggled. Hopefully they'll bed in and have a better second season too.

For me our struggles were 4 years in the making when we won the champions league, and when moyes took over that time bomb went off. I have always said this, United never been the same has a club since Ronaldo left, and only in the summer are they trying to make up for some dire summer transfers since summer 2008

 

[mu77]

If you go back, you can read charltons interview on why they turned down mourinho

oh i know my reply as if was to moyes being the answer and jose being "unseemly" , total farce they wanted moyes.

 

[Oneunited26]

Yep, which is why you need Fellaini in the middle of the park to stop the team getting bullied, unfortunately he doesn’t give you the attacking play that Herrera can offer you. It’s just a clusterfeck of nearly men in places we need our strongest and best players to be.

Herrera for me is a lampard type player, play 2 CM around him and have him be the forward attacking player Of that midfield 3, which is why we do not need mata

 

[Oneunited26]

oh i know my reply as if was to moyes being the answer and jose being "unseemly" , total farce they wanted moyes.

Ah right thought you disagree about charlton. It's been a farce since 2008

 

[mu77]

Ah right thought you disagree about charlton. It's been a farce since 2008

beyond farcical. he knew that ronaldo was going and brought in berba before he even left. then tony standstill as his direct replacement comes in the yr he leaves. then a litany of poor signings all with "potential" pinned on them. none have worked out. we may recoup the 9m on smalling the rest well they're pants.

 

[Getsme]

Herrera for me is a lampard type player, play 2 CM around him and have him be the forward attacking player Of that midfield 3, which is why we do not need mata

To do that we need to play 4-3-3, but more notably we need a consistent backline. At the moment both seem to be out of reach. Further for me Mata has been one of our better players this season, but of course, I can see how other would disagree.

 

[Oneunited26]

To do that we need to play 4-3-3, but more notably we need a consistent backline. At the moment both seem to be out of reach. Further for me Mata has been one of our better players this season, but of course, I can see how other would disagree.

I have always said this about players like mata, he's a white elephant player. His lack of mobility makes it a problem, much like berbatov he's not tactically the most flexible of players. I have never been a fan of pure number 10 players, unless the squad can play a diamond, and even that we will lack width, in a 4231 we would have to sacrifice a striker. So unless the team is built around that number 10, they come across has luxury players

 

[Pogue Mahone]

beyond farcical. he knew that ronaldo was going and brought in berba before he even left. then tony standstill as his direct replacement comes in the yr he leaves. then a litany of poor signings all with "potential" pinned on them. none have worked out. we may recoup the 9m on smalling the rest well they're pants.

Almost as all those league titles and CL finals after Ronaldo left never happened, right?

 

[Kidders]

On paper our squad looks/sounds fine, but the true test of a manager is putting the best 11 on the park, (and making it work), if LVG persists with the 3-5-2 then I think we will struggle, our squad cries out for a 4-2-3-1, the only weakness being cover at RB.
If we played 4-2-3-1 then it seems fairly simple:
DDG
Fit back 4
Carrick & Blind
Rooney, ADM plus another (my choice is Herrera)
RVP or Falcao

 

[RedSRM]

On paper our squad looks/sounds fine, but the true test of a manager is putting the best 11 on the park, (and making it work), if LVG persists with the 3-5-2 then I think we will struggle, our squad cries out for a 4-2-3-1, the only weakness being cover at RB.
If we played 4-2-3-1 then it seems fairly simple:
DDG
Fit back 4
Carrick & Blind
Rooney, ADM plus another (my choice is Herrera)
RVP or Falcao

I think we have the players for a really good first eleven (apart from centre back maybe) but at the moment we look a mess because we've been buggered by injuries and Louis' unnecessary messing around with formation and lineup.

 

[bucky]

Especially Evans, Rafael, Smalling and Jones have been massive disappointments since Ferguson retired in my eyes. I expected so much more of them. With that being said, I also agree that our transfer policy and identifying the right players before they become expensive has been poor, which is another issues why the squad isn't as good as it could be. We've also been too sentimental with some players and have waited too long to move them on.

 

[Getsme]

I think we have the players for a really good first eleven (apart from centre back maybe) but at the moment we look a mess because we've been buggered by injuries and Louis' unnecessary messing around with formation and lineup.

A very good 11 with an exceptional bench, we just need to sort the spine of the team out.

 

[Raees]

Probably one of the most scathing posts I have seen from Pogue and I agree with all his points.

For me the following players are capable of top class performances where you think feck they're top notch.. in terms of work rate energy and technique.. DDG, Rafael, Smalling, Di Maria.. on form they look a match for anyone against any team. Problem is 2 of them are injury prone and as a result very inconsistent and Di Maria is only good in a specific system.. Ideally left central midfield. He's shit anywhere else.

Rooney has worked his socks off this year .. can't fault his effort but he is not a top player. He hinders us tbh even though he is trying his best, we just need someone more technical in there. . He isn't quick and direct enough in terms of his ability to carry the ball, he can get goals and assists but I feel we are not playing beautiful football because him and Mata both lack that electricity to their game. They're getting goals but in terms of what they bring in terms of performance. . Its abit slow and cumbersome and against quick physical teams, its just not good enough to be brutally honest. Like Rooney is our mvp? But he is nowhere near as quick and dynamic as Aguero, Sanchez, Harzard. .Rooney is getting by through sheee grit and commitment to the cause but he is not destroying teams, he is not leaving players for dead making them look silly (no one in our team looks capable of making players look silly on a regular basis).

Mata is a final third player and he is just so peripheral most of the type. He would not get into any top side, he's just too slow. He is going to rack up goals and stuff but he is harming the tempo of the side. He is not going to destroy an opposition like David Silva can, he looks like a duck out of water. . We're so one paced and he is one of the main culprits.

RVP and Falcao, one is definitely finished.. and the other is nowhere near what he is worth and the questions about whether he'd suit us long term are justifiable. Falcao is a old fashioned striker at the moment. . We need an Aguero style player. The side lacks a dynamic modern day 9.

I just see so much mediocrity in this squad. Take the names out of the equation and base it entirely on performance output and it is such a poor squad by anyone's standards let alone title winning standard. We rarely look much better than our opponents and that is against all manner of teams not just the elite. This has been happening for years.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Especially Evans, Rafael, Smalling and Jones have been massive disappointments since Ferguson retired in my eyes. I expected so much more of them. With that being said, I also agree that our transfer policy and identifying the right players before they become expensive has been poor, which is another issues why the squad isn't as good as it could be. We've also been too sentimental with some players and have waited too long to move them on.

Maybe in hindsight, the amount of times we have bought players for low prices hoping they live up to their potential and failed has changed the policy. It appears we will not sign players unless they have had an established career in a league before we buy them, hence us having to pay the big bucks.

 

[Cina]

Almost as all those league titles and CL finals after Ronaldo left never happened, right?

To be fair, most of Fergie's signings since 07 have been pretty fecking poor. It's unfair to mention Valencia though, he was great for us and instrumental in a title winning season. I think it's fair to say that our squad was left in such a poor state partly because he either a) bought poorly or b) didn't bother to buy the players we need in certain positions at all.

Winning as much as he did after Ronaldo left and our best players started to age really was fecking incredible.

 

[NoPace]

For me, the following players are good enough to have us be up there with Bayern/Madrid/Chelsea/Barca, challenging for the treble every year, in the following roles, assuming we play a 4-3-3:

9 - Starter: Rooney Sub: RVP, Falcao, Chicharito
LW - Starter: _____ Sub: Nani, Januzaj
RW - Starter: ____ Sub: Nani, Januzaj

LCM - Starter: Di Maria Sub: ______
RCM - Starter: Herrera Sub: Mata (offensive)
DM - Starter: ______ Sub: Blind, Carrick

LB - Starter: Shaw Sub: ______
RB - Starter: Rafael Sub: ______
LCB - Starter: ____ Sub: Rojo
RCB -Starter: ____ Sub: Smalling, Jones

GK - Starter: De Gea Sub:Valdes

-I doubt there's any disagreement that Rooney (as a 9), Di Maria (as an LCM) and De Gea are basically as good as you can get realistically hope to get. After that, things get murky, though I trust the talent and youth of Herrera, Shaw and Rafael (injuries may derail the Brazilian, though)

-The backup fullbacks and CM's can be one player each, covering 2 spots. If you buy the right, versatile CM like a healthy Vidal, he can even be the starting DM and play CM instead of Di Maria or Herrera at times with Blind or Carrick starting

-Blind, Rojo, Smalling, Januzaj and Jones all have potential to go from sub to starter considering their ages

-You're probably okay with 9-10 starters and 1 or 2 spots rotating, so right now I'd say we're only a starting CB and a Winger short of being there, though. The right CB could carry Smalling or Rojo and the right winger and maybe Mata or Rooney playing a bit narrow on one side and things look better there too.

TLDR: We need a CB, a Winger (2 really unless Januzaj comes good), a CM and a backup fullback, which basically everyone agrees on anyways, as well as a healthy Rafael

 

[mu77]

Almost as all those league titles and CL finals after Ronaldo left never happened, right?

agreed 100% with your last posts. we've been buying kids/players from mid table teams for ages and that's sometimes what you become. smalling , fulham now relegated , jones blkbrn same , young , look at villa. conversely RVP from le arse , quality but too infrequent. we faffed away the ronaldo money even with winning titles. it wasn't on their backs we did it was it. they are at best squad players on someone elses squad. the dippers did the same with the money for the cannibal.

they did but had little to do with jones , smalling , young did they. they spent most of their time sitting out either benched or injured. and valencia had one good season the rest have been a bit crap. berba was good for about a season after that he was sold for what 5m. those titles were won on the backs of players already at the club, rio , vidic , paddy , carrick , rooney etc.

 

[Kidders]

Especially Evans, Rafael, Smalling and Jones have been massive disappointments since Ferguson retired in my eyes. I expected so much more of them. With that being said, I also agree that our transfer policy and identifying the right players before they become expensive has been poor, which is another issues why the squad isn't as good as it could be. We've also been too sentimental with some players and have waited too long to move them on.

My big problem is that i have rose tinted glass's, I really want Raphael, Jones, Smalling, Evans, McNair, Shaw, Blackett even Rojo to be great defensive footballers, but they ain't, at best they are good, but we're Man United, we want the best, every great team has a great defence, DDG deserves a lot better than this current crop in front of him.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

To be fair, most of Fergie's signings since 07 have been pretty fecking poor. It's unfair to mention Valencia though, he was great for us and instrumental in a title winning season. I think it's fair to say that our squad was left in such a poor state partly because he either a) bought poorly or b) didn't bother to buy the players we need in certain positions at all.

Winning as much as he did after Ronaldo left and our best players started to age really was fecking incredible.

I don't understand what has happened to Valencia, he was great when we bought him, but seems to have suffered since his injury. He seems to have lost all confidence when deciding whether to go past a man or not. His crosses are terrible and don't mention his throw ins. What has gone wrong there? Really he is only in that side because he is a bit more physical, surely there has to be more than that?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

they did but had little to do with jones , smalling , young did they. they spent most of their time sitting out either benched or injured. and valencia had one good season the rest have been a bit crap. berba was good for about a season after that he was sold for what 5m. those titles were won on the backs of players already at the club, rio , vidic , paddy , carrick , rooney etc.

Yeah, that's fair. Fergie hasn't spent well at all in the last few years of his reign. Disagree with @Oneunited26 and his constant moaning about penny-pinching. Fergie did spend big when he felt he needed to. Just a shame that when he did, he spent badly. Nani, Anderson and Berbatov were all supposed to be an integral part of his next great team and cost a fecking fortune. Shame it all ended so badly.

 

[Globule]

At the moment I'm getting a bit of an England vibe from our squad. During the 'Golden Generation' England had better players than 90% of teams and should have done a lot better, but it never really manifested itself on the pitch. There was never any real cohesion between the players. At least England had the excuse that these players only meet up together once in a while making it harder for them to gel.

Sure, City and Chelsea have better squads than us, but we should certainly be doing better than we are doing with the players we have (we're still 4th, so I'm talking mainly about performances than results, although even then we've dropped points to teams that don't come close to the talent we have at our disposal). At the moment the problem is primarily our failure to blend this set of players into a fully functioning team. And we can't even use the summer upheaval as an excuse, because Southampton have shown that if you buy wisely and implement a good strategy that the players can buy into, you can really hit the ground running.

Our injury crisis remains a valid excuse, but we're right to be questioning the situation.

 

[mu77]

Yeah, that's fair. Fergie hasn't spent well at all in the last few years of his reign. Disagree with @Oneunited26 and his constant moaning about penny-pinching. Fergie did spend big when he felt he needed to. Just a shame that when he did, he spent badly. Nani, Anderson and Berbatov were all supposed to be an integral part of his next great team and cost a fecking fortune. Shame it all ended so badly.

fergie spent big most of the time even before the titles. he broke the transfer record or came close in england a fair few times. cantona , pally , veron , berba , cole , keano , rio. neil webb? wasn't he an expensive signing. plus monies spent on bebe , anderson , nani , jones and young , f me we won't get the money back for jones by selling the lot.

 

[bucky]

Maybe in hindsight, the amount of times we have bought players for low prices hoping they live up to their potential and failed has changed the policy. It appears we will not sign players unless they have had an established career in a league before we buy them, hence us having to pay the big bucks.

Even when we are willing to pay big fees, the players we bring in don't work out as hoped. For example Javi Martinez was such an obvious signing, we knew first-hand how good he was when we played them and we were crying out for a midfielder like him at the time, yet we didn't make a move. It's really frustrating. I don't need a marquee signing every window, just smart business that improves the squad.

Another issue we've had for years and doesn't/didn't help the players at all is constantly playing them out of position.

 

[Gannicus]

We have, in all seriousness, a fantastic squad -- third only to Chelsea and City. But two factors have conspired against us which explain why we're only in fourth place.

First, we've suffered a shitload of injuries. Second, the manager has surveyed the injury toll and thus has embraced a rigid, defensive 352 formation.

Most of the injuries are the result of bad luck, although I don't rule out grueling training sessions having a hand in some of the injuries. The tactics are what they are and have probably done as much to suppress our performances than the injury toll itself has.

I don't have the football resume that Louis has, but it seems to me we would be in a slightly better position in the table having deployed a 451 than with a 352. Louis is averse to a lone striker, but it's so obvious that's what we need to do to improve our offensive production while still maintaining defensive strength. But Louis authorized the loan for Falcao and I understand how hard it is to sit him down when RvP is healthy, yet the two are nearly identical 9s and crave the same kind of service and space. I won't go so far as to say it was a mistake to go in for Falcao as it seemed likely that he would produce incredible performances and take over for the aging RvP, but it just hasn't worked out. But it was an odd decision to bring in Falcao anyway, as we have a perfect 10 on the squad -- Wayne Rooney -- who should be playing in the hole, not in midfield.

But I digress. The squad is incredible, but the team performances have been poor. Responsibility must lie at the feet of the manager for the transfer decisions in August, which left us with a hole in midfield, and the tactical decisions since then, which has resulted in the absence of a single performance that anyone would claim stands up as a truly memorable one.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Even when we are willing to pay big fees, the players we bring in don't work out as hoped. For example Javi Martinez was such an obvious signing, we knew first-hand how good he was when we played them and we were crying out for a midfielder like him at the time, yet we didn't make a move. It's really frustrating. I don't need a marquee signing every window, just smart business that improves the squad.

Another issue we've had for years and doesn't/didn't help the players at all is constantly playing them out of position.

Martinez and Herrera together would have been nice.

 

[RedFish]

On paper our squad looks/sounds fine, but the true test of a manager is putting the best 11 on the park, (and making it work), if LVG persists with the 3-5-2 then I think we will struggle, our squad cries out for a 4-2-3-1, the only weakness being cover at RB.
If we played 4-2-3-1 then it seems fairly simple:
DDG
Fit back 4
Carrick & Blind
Rooney, ADM plus another (my choice is Herrera)
RVP or Falcao

I'd like to see this. Chelsea have Matic and Fabregas in place of Carrick and Blind. We surely have to go Strootman/Pogba there.
Of the back line, only Shaw and Rojo 'impress' me. Smalling and Jones should be back up CB's. So we should go all out for a commanding Centre-half and get a RB who isn't so damn injury prone. Van Persie is as good as finished IMO...way too sporadic and sometimes even disinterested on occasion.


-------DDG-------
RB -CB-ROJO-SHAW
----CM- BLIND-----
ADM-ROONEY-HERRERA
--------CF--------

Top,top drawer CB,CM and CF and we're looking much better. 100 million+ Add in RB and maybe a pacey winger 150 million+

 

[Oneunited26]

Yeah, that's fair. Fergie hasn't spent well at all in the last few years of his reign. Disagree with @Oneunited26 and his constant moaning about penny-pinching. Fergie did spend big when he felt he needed to. Just a shame that when he did, he spent badly. Nani, Anderson and Berbatov were all supposed to be an integral part of his next great team and cost a fecking fortune. Shame it all ended so badly.

How is it moaning? when you see the end results of fergie's work from 08-13, since then? I think every fan has a right to have a few ranting posts on the clubs terrible transfer policy which cost the club champions league football, and not been competing with the elite. Don't start saying I am constantly moaning, just because it frustrates me when you see since fergie retired, the squad starts collapsing under moyes. Every fan has a right to moan when it it's there clear has daylight, the club and fergie payed the price

So because he spent badly on nani anderson and berbatov, he stops spending? Because nani and anderson did not work out, let's play safe, the club brings scholes out of retirement you know there are problems. Fact remains the squad was not in good shape when fergie decided to hang up his reign

 

[DomesticTadpole]

We have, in all seriousness, a fantastic squad -- third only to Chelsea and City. But two factors have conspired against us which explain why we're only in fourth place.

First, we've suffered a shitload of injuries. Second, the manager has surveyed the injury toll and thus has embraced a rigid, defensive 352 formation.

Most of the injuries are the result of bad luck, although I don't rule out grueling training sessions having a hand in some of the injuries. The tactics are what they are and have probably done as much to suppress our performances than the injury toll itself has.

I don't have the football resume that Louis has, but it seems to me we would be in a slightly better position in the table having deployed a 451 than with a 352. Louis is averse to a lone striker, but it's so obvious that's what we need to do to improve our offensive production while still maintaining defensive strength. But Louis authorized the loan for Falcao and I understand how hard it is to sit him down when RvP is healthy, yet the two are nearly identical 9s and crave the same kind of service and space. I won't go so far as to say it was a mistake to go in for Falcao as it seemed likely that he would produce incredible performances and take over for the aging RvP, but it just hasn't worked out. But it was an odd decision to bring in Falcao anyway, as we have a perfect 10 on the squad -- Wayne Rooney -- who should be playing in the hole, not in midfield.

But I digress. The squad is incredible, but the team performances have been poor. Responsibility must lie at the feet of the manager for the transfer decisions in August, which left us with a hole in midfield, and the tactical decisions since then, which has resulted in the absence of a single performance that anyone would claim stands up as a truly memorable one.

You would have thought there was a Strootman equivilant out there, he isn't exactly world class, he is good. However he seems determined to wait for him, leave the team with severe problems and then blow most of next summers budget on him. It will be as well because Roma know he wants him, they will then spend a quarter of the money on someone who does just as good a job. A player who we should have been looking at. It happens time after time.

 

[Kidders]

I'd like to see this. Chelsea have Matic and Fabregas in place of Carrick and Blind. We surely have to go Strootman/Pogba there.
Of the back line, only Shaw and Rojo 'impress' me. Smalling and Jones should be back up CB's. So we should go all out for a commanding Centre-half and get a RB who isn't so damn injury prone. Van Persie is as good as finished IMO...way too sporadic and sometimes even disinterested on occasion.


-------DDG-------
RB -CB-ROJO-SHAW
----CM- BLIND-----
ADM-ROONEY-HERRERA
--------CF--------

Top,top drawer CB,CM and CF and we're looking much better. 100 million+ Add in RB and maybe a pacey winger 150 million+

Can't dissagree too much, other than the fees ? probably cost nearer to £200

 

[Roboc7]

All Moyes' fault? Hardly. Van Gaal's struggles this season have confirmed that the squad Moyes inherited was nowhere near as good as many on here claimed. He clearly wasn't up to the job but the challenge he faced was massively under-estimated. Hence Van Gaal is having a hell of struggle to get more points out of the team than Moyes did.

Also worth noting that Moyes' signings have actually been among our best players under Van Gaal. It's this summer's arrivals who have struggled. Hopefully they'll bed in and have a better second season too.

Typo, meant to say it wasn't all his fault because problems were deeper than just him, he only made things worse though and even though mata and fellaini have been better I still don't think we should have signed either of them because we didn't need them and they haven't solved any problems. Same can be said of other signings we have made for too long we have been signing the wrong players or players who just aren't good enough.

 

[MikeUpNorth]

We have some great players and the mistake is we're not building the team around them.

Our best players are Rooney and Di Maria. These should be the last players to be moved from their favoured positions. Play Rooney upfront and play Di Maria as the most advanced of a midfield three.

De Gea
Rafael - Jones - Smalling - Shaw
Carrick
Herrera - Di Maria
Mata
Rooney - Van Persie
​

That would do the business against most teams. Put Blind in for Herrera/Mata for tough games and play with two holding midfielders.

 

[mu77]

How is it moaning? when you see the end results of fergie's work from 08-13. Don't make me look like that bad guy, just because it frustrates me when you see since fergie retired, the squad starts collapsing under moyes.

So because he spent badly on nani anderson and berbatov, he stops spending? Because nani and anderson did not work out, let's play safe, the club brings scholes out of retirement you know there are problems. Fact remains the squad was not in good shape when fergie decided to hang up his reign

he didn't stop spending mate he just spent on meh players - he spent 18 on young and jones plus 17 on kagawa take that along with a dose of fellaini and mata (good player wrong team) there's your ronaldo money.

alan smith , dejemba2 , kleberson. not good. smith was bought just before rooney and sold on for some dosh so a wash but not a united striker and deffo not a united midf. fergie what were you thinking. s@@t i look back on some of those teams , they were pretty dire, this squad looks good one compared to them.

 

[Gannicus]

You would have thought there was a Strootman equivilant out there, he isn't exactly world class, he is good. However he seems determined to wait for him, leave the team with severe problems and then blow most of next summers budget on him. It will be as well because Roma know he wants him, they will then spend a quarter of the money on someone who does just as good a job. A player who we should have been looking at. It happens time after time.

I think you're right that he's waiting for Strootman. But then why not just spend the 60m wad that would likely land him right now? We have the cash and a CL is an absolute must, so let's not feck around. We can use Blind as a left back while Shaw recovers.

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw/Blind
Carrick Strootman
Mata Rooney Di Maria
RvP/Falcao

Pretty insane, the only serious question being Rafael (do Coleman for 25m and be done with it).

With a very deep bench at our disposal...we really should be competing for second place, (Chelsea will pull away and have 9 fingers on the trophy by late February.), not begging for survival for fourth place.

 

[Getsme]

I don't understand what has happened to Valencia, he was great when we bought him, but seems to have suffered since his injury. He seems to have lost all confidence when deciding whether to go past a man or not. His crosses are terrible and don't mention his throw ins. What has gone wrong there? Really he is only in that side because he is a bit more physical, surely there has to be more than that?

He got Club player of the season, the season after his injury if I remember correctly, he seemed to go to pot the year he got the number 7 shirt.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

He got Club player of the season, the season after his injury if I remember correctly, he seemed to go to pot the year he got the number 7 shirt.

He did, didn't he. He gave the number up because of it.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

We have some great players and the mistake is we're not building the team around them.

Our best players are Rooney and Di Maria. These should be the last players to be moved from their favoured positions. Play Rooney upfront and play Di Maria as the most advanced of a midfield three.

De Gea
Rafael - Jones - Smalling - Shaw
Carrick
Herrera - Di Maria
Mata
Rooney - Van Persie
​

That would do the business against most teams. Put Blind in for Herrera/Mata for tough games and play with two holding midfielders.

Swap Carrick for Blind and that's the same midfield that was eviscerated by Leicester, the worst team in the league. Carrick's good but not all that much better than Blind.

 

[Oneunited26]

I think you're right that he's waiting for Strootman. But then why not just spend the 60m wad that would likely land him right now? We have the cash and a CL is an absolute must, so let's not feck around. We can use Blind as a left back while Shaw recovers.

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw/Blind
Carrick Strootman
Mata Rooney Di Maria
RvP/Falcao

Pretty insane, the only serious question being Rafael (do Coleman for 25m and be done with it).

With a very deep bench at our disposal...we really should be competing for second place, (Chelsea will pull away and have 9 fingers on the trophy by late February.), not begging for survival for fourth place.

I worry with us going for strootman, his injury problems, and he's a good player but not better than what we have got. I would rather stick with Fellaini than blow a fortune on strootman. Like I say we need speed and acceleration to pull teams about, that is the problem with the current team like I have said, no one is hurting teams it's all played infront of opposition.

The vintage United teams would look to stretch teams time and time again, this team has not got that, and with that, this tires teams out if we got players with world class pace, and that pins teams back